“Ryder, I don’t even know what to say. I can’t believe you came up with this so quickly!”
“Like I said, I was inspired.”
“Okay, but…what about The Ashford? I hate that you just have to scrub all those plans.”
His smile grew. “Funny you should mention that…” He opened up another tab on the screen and motioned for her to look at it.
“Wait…is that…is that Shawn’s listing?”
He nodded.
“I’m lost. What does this house have to do with your resort?”
This time he was the one to reach for her hand, and with it clasped in his, he explained. “When we first met and I told you about the resort, you had a…strong reaction to it.”
“I pitched a fit,” she reminded him.
“Still, behind all your anger toward me was a very real statement. The Ashford–in theory–was a good idea. Just not for Magnolia Sound.”
Peyton did her best not to gloat because she knew this was hard for him. “Will you build it someplace else?”
With a small shrug, he said, “Eventually. I’m considering checking out property in the next town over.”
“Laurel Bay? Really?”
“I didn’t think there was a place smaller than Magnolia Sound, but…there is quite literally nothing there. It’s a clean slate and possibly the better choice for the resort somewhere down the line.”
“Oh. Then…what’s with the listing?”
“That, Duchess, is going to be The Ashford.” He grinned. “Or should I say, the home of the Ashfords–me and you.”
Now she knew her eyes were ridiculously huge as she stared at him in shock. “But… I mean…that place…and your house that Austin…how…?”
Fortunately, he took pity on her and explained. “It was a little wishful thinking, but…that property–once it’s renovated–is everything I wanted for the resort. The grounds are incredible, the rooms are going to be gorgeous, and it’s the kind of luxury I enjoy living in. Don’t get me wrong, I love the house on the beach where Austin and Mia are staying, but…I still haven’t been able to live in it and I don’t know if it would ever feel like home. I think with you and I overseeing everything we want done on the house, it could be the perfect home for us. And our family.”
“Our…family?” she croaked.
He nodded. “Yeah. Our family. Me, you, our kids, and…a place where our extended family can come and stay. Including our parents. I know it won’t be ready by the time my mother has her surgery, but…I thought about what you said that night and realized how selfless that was. She was awful to you and yet you were still trying to comfort her.” Pausing, he let out a long breath. “You inspire me to be a better person. So I want a home that makes everyone feel welcome. The beach house it great, but it’s not big enough for me to feel comfortable inviting anyone to stay for an extended period of time.”
“I can understand that, but I’m just completely overwhelmed. This is…it’s a lot to take in.”
“I know, but I’m excited by all the possibilities.”
“It’s a lot, Ryder. I mean…this is all just so much! A resort, the diner, the restaurant, the house, the other resort…I mean…how can you do all of it?”
Standing, he gently pulled her to her feet as his arms banded around her. “Because I won’t be alone. You’re going to be right there by my side–as my partner, my equal, and hopefully…my wife.”
Her knees went weak, but before she could say anything, he went on.
“I said it last night and I’m saying it again this morning and yet I still don’t have a ring to make it official, but you have to know that it’s what I want, Peyton. Maybe I should have waited until I did have the ring, but…it wasn’t going to change anything for me. We could get in the car right now and get one, but…”
He dropped to one knee with her hands in his.
“Peyton Bishop, I love you. You may not want the world, but I want to give it to you. There has never been anyone that I’ve wanted to share my life with, but from almost the moment we met, I’ve wanted to share everything with you. You don’t have to say yes today. We can wait because…well…you know me. I go after what I want. But I’m also willing to wait for your response. I’ll wait as long as it takes. I just wanted you to know my intentions.” He kissed her fingers and was about to rise when she sank down in front of him.
“Ryder Ashford, the day you walked into my café in a tuxedo, I lost a little piece of my heart. Now you have all of it. I don’t need a ring and I don’t need the world because…I already have it. You. You are my world and everything you just proposed is scary and exciting and there isn’t anyone else I could do it with except for you. I love you.”
Tears were clouding her vision, but Peyton didn’t mind. This time when he kissed her, it was slow and sweet and reverent.
Perfect.
She had no idea how much time had passed before they stopped and got to their feet, but she was more than a little thankful to be off of the kitchen floor.
“So what do you say? We can leave right now and go get a ring or we can be responsible adults and go to work? Which do you want?”
It was a funny question. “There isn’t a jewelry store here in Magnolia, but the drive to Wilmington won’t take too long. We can still be responsible and go to work after lunch, right?”
“Um…no,” he said with a hint of amusement. “I was thinking we’d fly up to New York and shop at Tiffany’s and find you the perfect ring. Then we’d have a fantastic dinner someplace, stay at the Plaza before coming home tomorrow and then being responsible adults.”
“Oh…wow! That sounds very tempting.”
“Come on, Duchess,” he urged, resting his forehead against hers. “Indulge me. Let’s do this.”
It truly was tempting. Peyton spent most of her life being responsible and unwilling to take risks, but…she was beginning to see the upside to being a bit more carefree. Ryder studied her face as she pretended to think about it for a moment. “Hmm…I just have one request.”
“Anything, and it’s yours.”
“You’re not allowed to fly us there.”
Ryder’s bark of laughter echoed around them as he hugged her tightly. “My little negotiator, you got it!”
They packed quickly as Ryder made arrangements with his pilot. Peyton took a few minutes to call the café and made arrangements with her staff and talked to Dana to make sure there wasn’t anything urgent that needed her attention. Once that was done, she wasn’t sure what to do with herself.
Ryder’s laptop was still open on the kitchen island, and she walked over and tapped the screen, wanting to look at his plans for the new resort and the diner. But the tab labeled “Peyton’s” caught her eye.
“Um, Ryder?” she called out.
“Hmm?”
“Would you mind showing me the plans for the restaurant? You know…the ones Austin showed me the other night?”
He casually strode back into the room and smiled warily at her. “Are you sure you want to look at them right now? They really set you off the last time you looked at them.”